Fastest ever aspirated production car just misses all time mark
Porsche’s wild new 911 GT3 RS is the quickest-ever normally aspirated standard production car ever to lap the Nürburgring. Not just that, but it but it also thrashed its turbo GT2 RS sibling around the Green Hell. It fell just 1.21 seconds short the monstrously more powerful Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series’ all-time road car mark.
The GT3 RS set a 6 minute 49.328 second lap on the traditional longer lap. The 6m44:848s mark around the ‘official’ 20.6 km Nordschleife lap is just over 1.2 seconds off that AMG GT Black Series’ 6m43.616s mark. Not bad for 150 kilowatts less.
Active Aero, Drag Reduction & Air Brake
This new GT3 RS mark is also just short of the current streetcar record held by a Porsche 911 GT2 RS MR fitted with aftermarket Manthey Racing tuner components. The new 911 GT3 RS mark is however a couple seconds quicker than a standard GT2 RS. It’s a tenth or so swifter quicker than the 600 kW Lamborghini Aventador SV. And 10.6 seconds quicker than the standard 911 GT3.
The record-breaking Porsche 911 GT3 RS features an active aero system including two flaps just ahead of the front wheels. It works in conjunction with a massive bi-plane rear wing to constantly adapt the level of downforce generated. That’s up to 860 kg at 285 km/h and comparable with a GT3 racecar.
The rear wing also doubles as an air brake, and there’s even an F1-like DRS drag reduction system. It opens a gap between the two wing sections to reduce drag and up speed at the touch of a steering wheel button. That helped the GT3 RS to 280 km/h on the long Döttinger Höhe straight. Driver Jorg Bergmeister used DRS several times through his hot lap.
Less Than Ideal Conditions for GT3 RS Lap
“Considering far from ideal conditions and a strong headwind on the Döttinger Höhe long straight of the and cool track temperatures, we are satisfied with this time,” Porsche head of GT cars Andreas Preuninger confirmed.
The record GT3 RS was fitted with an optional weight-saving Weissach Pack. It also had Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres and magnesium wheels. The only other changes were a racing seat for the driver and safety kit.
Interestingly, Porsche’s 918 Spyder was the first production car to break the Nordschleife’s 7-minute barrier only ten years ago. The new GT3 RS is now 12.152 seconds faster, but still a hair’s breadth off that other car from Stuttgart. Over to the GT2 RS, then!